Rockford Orthopedic Associates continues support of food bank

• More than $250,000 donated to support childhood hunger programs in Winnebago County over past 10 years

Online Staff Report

Rockford Orthopedic Associates recently reached a new milestone in its support of Northern Illinois Food Bank (NIFB), surpassing the $250,000 threshold in combined giving over the past decade.

The most recent donation of $29,325 brings the total amount donated by Rockford Orthopedic Associates over the past 10 years to $257,465, all of which has been directed to support the food bank’s efforts at solving childhood hunger in Winnebago County.

“We are incredibly grateful for the longstanding support from Rockford Orthopedic Associates and its employees,” said Pete Schaefer, president and CEO of NIFB. “This generous donation continues to help support child nutrition programs in the greater Rockford area, including after-school programs and our BackPack Program, which provide nourishment to children who otherwise may go hungry.”

One in four children in Winnebago County will face hunger sometime this year. NIFB supports 18 after-school programs in Winnebago County by providing suppers or snacks to more than 1,100 students in need. Additionally, the food bank’s BackPack Program — in which school children receive a backpack of food to last the weekend for themselves and up to two additional family members — partners with 23 schools in the county and provides about 700 backpacks full of food to children each month.

“We feel supporting these vital nutrition programs is one of the most effective ways to help build a stronger future for our community,” said Don Schreiner, CEO of Rockford Orthopedic. “Providing meals not only enables the children to do better in school, but it contributes toward better health and quality of life as these young lives are being molded to become future leaders and community members.”